Deep Dive: Jane (2017)
Film Lens
Jane is a biographical documentary about Jane Goodall, directed by Brett Morgen. It chronicles Goodall's groundbreaking work with chimpanzees in Tanzania starting in 1957, when she was assigned by Louis Leakey to observe their behavior. The film captures her initial challenges as an untrained researcher living in the jungle with her mother, and her significant discovery that chimpanzees use tools, which faced skepticism from the scientific community. The documentary incorporates footage filmed by Hugo van Lawick, who documented her research and later became her husband.
The narrative follows Jane's life as she balances her research with personal experiences, including her marriage to Hugo and the birth of their son, Grub. It also addresses the impact of a polio outbreak on the chimpanzee troop and the emotional fallout from the loss of Flo, a dominant female chimp. The film emphasizes Jane's contributions to wildlife conservation and her extensive travels to raise awareness about chimpanzees, culminating in her lasting legacy in the field of primatology.
Why Watch
- •See Jane Goodall's groundbreaking chimpanzee research
- •Meet the first mother-infant chimpanzee duo in the wild
- •Follow Jane's life from untrained researcher to conservation icon
Did You Know
•Jane Goodall was only 26 years old when she began her research in 1957.
•The first mother-infant chimpanzee relationship was observed in the wild in 1960.
•Jane's son, nicknamed 'Grub,' was sent back to England to live with his grandmother.
•The documentary uses footage filmed by Hugo van Lawick that was rediscovered in 2014.
Perfect For
Primatology enthusiastsWildlife conservation advocatesFans of biographical documentaries